This week I have a second opportunity to work with the Chicago Children’s Museum, and my first time to work with kids in the new art studio space. We will be showing them different ways to weave at home using repurposed materials. As a part of the workshop for the smaller age groups, I wanted to offer parents some ideas that have worked really well for our family to encourage our kids to create on their own (without unmanageable mess!). I made this list of a few tips that I feel have made a real difference for us, and a shopping list of some basics for stocking and all-ages creative space.

These things can easily translate to encouraging yourself to create in new ways on the regular! So whether your home has kids or not, here’s some things to try.

5 Ways To Encourage Creativity At Home

Create A Designated Space-- Find a permanent spot in your home where your kids can have regular access to supplies that you’ll be okay with a moderate amount of mess, and they can leave an unfinished project out. A table top, a small shelf or space for storage, and a floor that is wipeable are all you need.

Make Something Yourself-- Tapping into your own creative space not only models this habit for your kids, it can create some quiet quality time that you both enjoy.

Let Go- Try to keep your guidance minimal. There will be plenty of people in your kids life to give them rules and structure when it comes to creating. Their home art space can be the place they play and think outside of any boxes, a skill as important to foster as any other.

Get Easy To Use And Easy To Keep Supplies-- but not too many or it will be too hard to clean up and organize! The basics are best. Use this handy Supply List I made on Amazon with some of the basics that my kids are always using. Follow their curiosity and get different or better things based on what attracts them to create most often.

Take An Interest In What They’ve Made-- Instead of asking if that’s a tree or a dog and accidentally assigning meaning or completely misreading it, you can say, “Tell me about this part!” and then follow up with questions. Hang it on a designated wall with sticky tack or tape, or frame it with a small poster frame above their beds.

Check out this printable version of a shopping list to take with you to shop locally. I also made up an Amazon idea list here if you want to get some basics online. And of course, don’t forget to shop your recycling and the back of your closet for materials!